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Masahiro Tanaka and the potential benefits of throwing more elevated fastballs

For years now Masahiro Tanaka has been the poster boy for the Yankees’ anti-fastball philosophy. Despite the ongoing narrative that he lost velocity following his 2014 elbow injury, Tanaka’s fastball velocity has held steady since then, but the fastball is still his clear third pitch. His splitter and slider are his two best weapons so he uses them. A lot.

Man can not live on offspeed pitches alone though. Tanaka’s fastball will never be a putaway pitch, but it is a pitch he needs to set up his splitter and slider. It’s something to keep hitters honest.